OMC OFFROAD  

California Off-Road Vehicle Association

Sustainable Parks Program Threatens OHV Fund

Senators Evans and Simitian Unveil Plan to Keep State Parks Open. Proposal Could Divert Funds from the OHV Division to State Parks.

SACRAMENTO On Tuesday, May 8th, State Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) unveiled a budget proposal to keep open up to 50 state parks slated for closure this year while providing a stable and long-term funding solution that will keep all parks open. As many as 70 state parks had been slated for closure beginning July 1, 2012.

The essence of the Sustainable Parks Proposal is: Providing assistance to non-profit partners working for operating agreements for state parks; Finding new ways of working in the parks, including allowing parks to become more entrepreneurial and allowing more personnel flexibility; Accessing up to $121 million of existing funding sources that may be appropriately used for park purposes over a five year period, including using up to $10 million/year of existing funds collected the Motor Vehicle Account, $21 million from the Local Assistance Program which would possibly consume the entire OHV grant fund and $10 million/year from the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund.

The Sustainable Parks Proposal was heard in Senate Budget Subcommittee #2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation, which is chaired by Simitian. CORVA attended the hearing and delivered testimony against taking funds from the OHV funds. Sen. Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, was also reluctant to support the proposal, saying she gets more letters from constituents in favor of the off-highway programs than any other issue.

The bill will be heard again in committee on May 23rd. More information will be available prior to the next hearing.

Forest Service Seeking Public Comments

The Forest Service is seeking public comments on a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California National Forests (the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino).

The Proposed Amendment would modify the existing land use zones allocations in selected inventoried roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed. The full details of the proposed action can be found on the project webpage at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130

This Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plan is part of the Settlement Agreement approved January 3, 2011, in the case of; California Resources Agency, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture, and Center for Biological Diversity, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture.

Public Meetings

The four National Forests will be hosting multiple open houses during the 45-day scoping period that began April 27th. The content and format of each meeting will be identical; however each forest will be presenting information specific to what the Proposed Amendment means locally. Forest Service staff officers will be available to answer questions and maps of the proposed changes will be available for viewing. The meeting times and locations are:

* May 29, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 (Los Padres National Forest)

* May 30, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Angeles National Forest Headquarters, 701 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006 (Angeles National Forest)

* May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Santa Maria Red Cross, 3030 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (Los Padres National Forest)

* May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Santa Clara Mojave Rivers Ranger District Office, 33708 Crown Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510 (Angeles National Forest)

* May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, San Bernardino National Forest Headquarters, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408 (San Bernardino National Forest)

* May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Palomar Ranger District Office, 1634 Black Canyon Road, Ramona, CA 92065 (Cleveland National Forest)

* June 1, 2012, 1:00 PM to 4 PM, Frazier Park Library, 3732 Park Drive, Frazier Park, CA 93225 (Los Padres National Forest)

* June 5, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Descanso Ranger District office, 3348 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA 91901 (Cleveland National Forest)

* June 5, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Trabuco Ranger District office, 1147 E. 6th Street, Corona, CA 92879 (Cleveland National Forest)

How To Comment

The public is encouraged to participate in the process. Comments should be received within 45 days of the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. The Notice was published on Friday, April 27, 2012, and the comment period closes on Monday, June 11, 2012. Send written comments to:

Cleveland National Forest, 10845 Rancho Bernardo Rd, Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92127-2107, ATTN: LMP Amendment.

Comments may be sent via e-mail to: socal_nf_lmp_amendment@fs.fed.us

or filed through the project web page at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130

For further information contact Project Manager Bob Hawkins at:

socal_nf_lmp_amendment@fs.fed.us

or visit the project website at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130

Rep. Duncan Hunter recently sent his letter in, to see it CLICK HERE

CORVA ANNUAL MEETING 2012

Our Annual Meeting will take place on Saturday, May 19th in Visalia. All Supporting Members are invited to attend. Please make sure that you are current on your dues (check the mailing label on your newsletter or check your profile online) One of our bylaw changes of 2007 created a staggered board. We have 3 offices on the Association board due at this time. Those offices are;

Vice President - Administration, Vice President - Education and Treasurer.

Any Supporting Member of CORVA in good standing may run for any office. All candidates will be nominated from the floor at the beginning of the election process during the Annual Meeting.

If you are not able to attend and not part of a CORVA Club, you can still cast a vote. Please see the bylaws under ARTICLE X - VOTING AND DELEGATES for all requirements.

Registration will begin at 9:00am and the Annual Meeting to start at 11:00am. Meeting to end by 3:00pm. Representatives of clubs are encouraged to submit their club rosters before the meeting date. Agenda Items to include: Elections of Association Officers, Annual Awards, Bylaw Amendments, Reports and other business.

The Lamp Liter Inn is located at 3300 West Mineral King, Visalia. Discounted rooms are available by calling 800-662-6692 Mention CORVA when placing your reservations. (deadline May 5th)

Map and directions to the CORVA Annual Meeting: MAP - CLICK HERE

For all questions please contact Jim Colln at:

jim.colln@corva.org or 800-42-CORVA ext. 509

Can't make it to the meeting this year, you can always make a donation to help keep us on the ground and running. Do that by click here: Donate to CORVA

Hope to see you there.

Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update

Get Involved: We want to hear from you Presidents Day weekend and online!

California State Parks will be holding a mobile workshop on February 18th and February 19th as part of the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update. The purpose of these workshops is to share work that has already been completed for the General Plan Update and to collect your input on draft goals to be included in the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan. More Information

Saturday Morning: Ocotillo Wells SVRA Discovery Center February 18th, 2012, 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.

Saturday Evening: Truckhaven 4x4 Training Area February 18th, 2012, 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

Sunday Morning: North Marina Drive February 19th, 2012, 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.

Saturday Morning: Holmes Camp February 19th, 2012, 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

New Video about Ocotillo Wells SVRA

What is a General Plan? What does it mean for Ocotillo Wells SVRA? Watch the short video to find out more about the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update.

www.PlanOcotilloWells.com/video

You Spoke, We Listened

Working Paper #1 provides a summary of the various public outreach activities over the past 2 years as part of the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update.

Starting February 22, you can participate online. Whether or not you participate in the mobile workshop, you can still provide input on the draft goals for the Ocotillo Wells SVRA General Plan Update. Starting February 22, 2012 you can visit: www.PlanOcotilloWells.com to provide your input using an online exercise that is similar to the mobile workshops. The online exercise will be available for you to provide input until March 21, 2012.

Go to: www.PlanOcotilloWells.com for more information on the General Plan and EIR process.

Project Contact: Tina Robinson General Plan Project Manager (760) 767-1302 or (760) 315-2845 trobinson@parks.ca.gov

CORVA Needs Help With Legal Issues

Calling all lawyers, paralegals, students in law school - CORVA needs help with legal issues that only you can provide. We have ongoing legal issues and new issues arising that we would like to pursue aggressively, but need your legal skills. Please contact Amy at: amy.granat@corva.org for more information.

WE WANT YOUR OFF-ROADING PHOTOS!

Do you ride, drive, or snowmobile? Maybe you have buggy or sandrail? CORVA wants to celebrate off-roading by featuring your photos on our website and in our monthly newsletter, Off-Roaders In Action (ORIA).

Send us your photos (along with your name and permission to publish) to info@corva.org and the keep looking on our website and newsletter to see your photos on our pages.

Help Stamp Out Bias Against Off-Road Recreationists

Attention: motorized recreation enthusiasts who enjoy recreating in the forests in California. The Forest Service wants to know about your experiences and contacts with Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers.

In an ongoing effort to address problems occurring in all California National Forests, please write down your experiences, both good and bad so everyone can make sure riding and driving in the California forests is a positive experience.

Documented issues that arise will be investigated and resolved. Please send all letters to:

*Law Enforcement Officer Task Force Lead. ENF, Patrol Captain Frank Aguilar at: faguilar@fs.fed.us

*cc; Amy Granat, Managing Director of CA Off-Road Vehicle Association at: amy.granat@corva.org

The contact’s are good for all of the National Forests in California (Region 5)

*and for Eldorado National Forest issues, Sheriff John D’Agostini would like to be advised also. cc; John D'Agostini, El Dorado County Sheriff at: john.dagostini@edso.org

Please contact your local Sheriff with this information. As all county Sheriff’s need to be in the loop.

This is a step towards making your visit to the National Forests in California a very pleasant one, regardless of your choice of motorized or non-motorized recreation. Please pass this information along to all you friends, club members, and fellow off-roaders.

Thank you

Amy Granat – CORVA

Jerry Reffner - Friends of the Rubicon

CORVA Puts Together Coalition

Joined by the Rubicon Trail Foundation, Sierra Access Coalition and Stewards of the Sequoia, CORVA has put together a coalition to hire Jesse Barton, Esq. to write professional comments on the new draft Forest Service Waiver issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

Every club, group and organization is welcome to join our coalition, and every donation is welcome, no matter how big or how small. The important part is to submit the best comments possible, and empower every motorized recreation enthusiast. Together we can make a difference.

Download copies of the documents here:

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/nps/wqmp_forests.shtml